All articles by Ken Wieland – Page 18
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M&AVodafone gets India tax break from The Hague
International arbitration court rules against India in long-running tax dispute surrounding 2007 Hutchison Essar acquisition. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government reportedly mulling an appeal, pending legal advice. In separate tax news, India’s Supreme Court calls for ten-year payback period on outstanding AGR dues.
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PremiumVodafone emerging as TIP’s most valuable player
Leads way in sourcing ‘open’ radio hardware suppliers. Targets DU/CU disaggregation and white-box base stations. Involved in raft of new TIP initiatives, including Solution Groups, OpenBNG, and MUST. Tenorio insists commercial deployments to date are “tip of the iceberg”.
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Public AffairsHuawei on retreat as US dials up European pressure
German coalition cabinet reportedly approves measures in IT security bill that, if passed, will effectively ban Huawei from 5G RAN market. Revision looks set to hurt Vodafone’s planning in largest market. Vodafone Greece also looks set for disruption as Pompeo visit increases pressure for a local ban.
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Public AffairsUS dials up European pressure on Huawei
German coalition cabinet reportedly approves measures in IT security bill that, if passed, will effectively ban Huawei from 5G RAN market.
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Strategy & ChangeOTE head honchos propose organisational revamp
Three new spin-out specialist companies to absorb customer service, shops, and technical field operations.
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Strategy & ChangeBT warns TIP not to overlook quality
Crane flags importance of broadband customer experience in OpenBNG work. Latest round of TIP updates suggests BT remains focused on core and access networks, while European peers DT, Telefónica, and Vodafone more openly embrace end-to-end development.
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M&AMÁSMÓVIL CEO calls Vodafone link a “bluff”
Spenger scoffs at recent media reports that MÁSMÓVIL was in consolidation talks with Vodafone. CEO pointedly adds, however, that mergers eliminate “unnecessary infrastructure costs”.
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Network & InfrastructureMixed results from G.INP tests on ECI cabinets
Openreach withdraws some ECI VDSL lines after ReTx runs into problems. Blame pinned on supplier’s DSLAMs.
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Innovation (R&D)Deutsche Telekom champions new TIP/O-RAN lab in Berlin
Choi talks of “new level of collaboration”, as joint O-RAN/TIP lab becomes available for open RAN testing at DT’s facilities in Berlin. Hails recent European O-RAN/TIP plugfest a success. Berlin lab available for open BNG testing, “as soon as systems are available”.
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Public AffairsTalkTalk takes pot shot at Openreach FTTP pricing
CEO calls for longer-term, discounted full-fibre wholesale deals. Harrison claims BT’s alleged fears of breaching UK competition rules is “red herring”, while incumbent maintains it needs to appease all stakeholders.
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Suppliers & SCMDeutsche Telekom’s Huawei gamble looking iffy
German coalition cabinet reportedly approves measures in IT security bill that, if passed, will effectively ban Huawei from 5G RAN market. Revision looks set to hurt DT, despite recent brave talk of “multi-vendor strategy”.
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Network & InfrastructureTMUS in spectrum dispute with tetchy rivals
AT&T and Verizon Communications complain to FCC that TMUS has excessive amount of low- and mid-band spectrum. Sievert accuses ‘big two’ of dissembling. CBRS auction draws little interest from the NatCo.
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M&AVodafone linked with Spain’s MÁSMÓVIL again
Group reportedly in acquisition talks with Spain’s fourth largest operator. MÁSMÓVIL subsequently denies discussions after only recently agreeing to private equity buyout.
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Network & InfrastructureBT fires another warning shot over fibre roadblocks
Without the right “policy, legislative and fiscal enablers”, BT warns full-fibre nationwide coverage will not happen until 2033. Government target for universal coverage of “Gigabit-capable broadband” is 2025.
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Network & InfrastructureBT customer quantum trial underway using commercial product
BT highlights ability to plug QKD into OSA Filter Connect, a commercial WDM-based product provided by Openreach. Extensive commercial deployment of QKD in BT’s metro and core networks still at least five years away, however.
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Public AffairsVodacom’s Congo CFO gets out of jail
Chutoo endures four-day stint behind bars. CFO reportedly quizzed on allegations of “forgery” and “falsification of financial statements”; but no formal charges. Vodacom DRC expresses surprise.
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Partnerships & AlliancesTelefónica aims to jump-start OpenRAN with Rakuten
Group taps Japanese operator’s know-how in virtualised networks through MoU. Implied suggestion that TIP collaboration not moving fast enough for commercial “end-to-end” deployment of open RAN architectures.
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Products & ServicesTelekom Deutschland takes IP fixed voice to the cloud
New Next Generation IP Multimedia Subsystem (NIMS) platform up and running. Marks another step in DT’s journey to software telco. NIMS suppliers include Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Juniper Networks, Lenovo, Mavenir, Metaswitch, and Red Hat.
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Strategy & ChangeHöttges goes on Huawei defensive
DT gambles on Germany taking neutral stance on Chinese supplier. High hopes open RAN will help diversify the ecosystem, but systems not ready yet.
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Network & InfrastructureDeutsche Telekom’s bumpy journey to software telco: Part II
First commercial Access 4.0 deployments imminent, but project far from completion. Silicon not yet ready for speedy service introduction. Prototypes of a converged Access 4.0 architecture not expected until 2022. Making sure organisational change keeps up with technology advances a constant challenge.